Improvement in grain-deters



2 Sheets--Sheet l. W; C. FDWLER.

Grain-Meters. NO 1573I8, i Patnted Dec. 1,1874.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2. W. C. FUWLER.

Grain-Meters..

Patented Dec. l, 1874.

PATE

'l FFIOE;

VILLIAM C. FOVLER, OF CHANEYVILLE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAW-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 57,318, dated December l, 1874; application filed October 14, 1874.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM C. FowLER, of Ohaneyville, in the county of Calvert and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grain-Measurers; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists mainly in the employment, in connection with a suitable hopper and delivery box or'case, of an intermediate duplex measuring-chamber, adapted to l move longitudinally for the purpose ot' leveling or striking the grain, and discharging its measured contents, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a central sectional elevation; Fig. 2, a plan View; Fig. 3, a partial transverse sectional elevation; Fig. 4, a side elevation, partially in section; Figs. 5 and 6, views of the tallying mechanism; Fig. 7, a plan view of the supportingways.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

A represents a suitable box or case, supported in any proper manner, and provided with a bottom portion, having sides a a downwardly-inclined toward a central dischargeopening; a main portion, al, of quadrangular form, adapted to hold the measuring-chamber; and the hopper a2, adapted to receive the grain and discharge the same through its centrall opening into the measuring-chamber beneath. a3 a3 represent guideways, secured to the sides of the main portion ot the case A,

which are adapted to support the measuringchamber in its 'longitudinal movement. a4 a4 represent projecting bars, centrally attached to the guideways, which are adapted to sustain the hinged bottom of the measuringchamber in a closed position while the same is being filled and moved to its place of discharge. B represents the duplex measuringl chamber, consisting of a box or case of suitable size, centrally divided in two equal chambers by the partition b, as shown, each of which is provided with a hinged bottom opening from the center outward, as shown. C C represent cords, or their equivalents, secured at one end to the swinging edge of the hinged bottoms, which, after being extended through suitable openings in the central partition and ends ofthe measuring-chamber B, and through the end pieces of the case A, and provided with proper handles c, as shown. d d represent iiaps of leather, or other suitable mate- 1ial,-which are attached to the hopper at the ends of its central opening in such manner as to overhang the upper edges of the end pieces of the measuring-chamber, for the purpose of preventing the grain from lodging thereon and interfering with its movement. e e represent pins located at the ends of the discharge-opening of the case, which are adapted to hold a bag in position to receive the grain as it is discharged from the measuring-chamber.

The operation is as follows: Grain being supplied to the hopper of the machine from any suitable source, the same falls into one of the divisions of the measuring-chamber, located beneath the central opening, until the same is filled and heaped. Then that one ot' the cords at the ends of the machine which is the shortest is' pulled, by which means the hinged bottom of the empty chamber is iirst raised into its closed position by the slack of the cord, and then the entire measuring-chamber is caused to slide upon its supporting-ways to one end of the machine, so that the empty chamber is brought beneath the central opening, and the full chamber is carried far enough to remove its hinged bottom from the central supporting-bars a4 a4, so that it is free to drop and discharge the contents.

It will be understood that'when the hinged bottom is drawn up into its closed position, and when the chamber moves, it rests upon and is held by the supporting-bars a4 a4, which sustain it until in its return movement it moves beyond them, and, falling, permits the grain to escape.

The edge ot' the hopper-bottom board at the sides of the opening serves to level the grain, to make accurate measure, the excess being swept over the central partition into the chamber about to be filled.

VThe upper edge of the central partition, it

will be observed, is not even with the side edges, a slight space being left, so that the grain may not be crushed by contact with the edge of the hop per-bottom boards.

It will be understood, of course, that at every pull of the cord one measure full is discharged into the bag below.

In connection With this machine I use a tallying-machine of peculiar construction, for making an automatic record of the amount which passes through the machine. In general principles it resembles others of its class. It dit't'ers, however, in this, that the dial-Wheels are all loose upon drums tixed to the operating shaft, so that they have not a positive Inove- Inent, but are moved by the friction of the drums upon which they rest.

By means of this construction I am enabled to give the main shaft and its actuatingarm an excess of movement in each direction, so that if the measure is prevented, by the interposition of a grain or from other cause, from moving exactly its usual distance, still the proper tally will be made.

x represents the main axle; x1, the rigid drums; x2, the loose dials, With pins x3 w3; x4 m4, the holding-springs; and x5, the actuatingarm, having spring-pawl m6, as shown. The actuating-arm receives its movement from the movement of the measuring-chamber, and communicates the same by means of its springpaWl to the main axle and fixed drum, which moves by friction the dial-wheels when they are released by their holding-sprin gs.

The machine described is very simple in its construction, yet Well adapted for the purpose desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the duplex measuringchamber, adapted for movement as described, and provided with hinged bottoms, with the receiving-hopper, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofthe duplex measuringchamber B, having hinged bottoms, as described, the case A, having suitable guiding- Ways, and the actuating-cords G C, as described.

3. The combination of the actuating-cords and the hinged' bottoms, substantially as described. e

4. The tally described, having the fixed drums x1, the loose drums m2, and the pressure-spring w, constructed and arranged as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 8th day of October, 1874.

WM. C. FOWLER.

Witnesses:

J oB It. ARMIGER, JOHN A. DoWELL. 

